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‘Morning, Charlie,’ he said absent-mindedly.
‘Good morning, William,’ I said with a smile.
I studied him for a few seconds, but he didn’t look grumpy so he must have had his morning coffee.
Gayle gave me a questioning look as she took her seat across from me, next to Trisha. I shrugged at her.
After the others showed up, William took his seat and started to give us all the information he had on the new case and what was happening.
We were right in the middle of the meeting, talking to the CEO of the company, explaining the steps we needed to take, when there was a knock on the door and my dad popped in.
‘Charlie?’
‘Yes?’ I whispered. He was wearing his dark navy blue suit and there was not one single hair out of place.
‘The proposal?’ he asked, his eyes focused on me.
I held back my sigh and after giving William a quick look, quietly excused myself, stepping out of the room to talk to my dad.
My hand still on the handle, I tried to keep it short.
‘I emailed it to you this morning.’
‘It’s not in my inbox, Charlie.’
Closing my eyes, I rubbed my temples. ‘I sent it over two hours ago, dad.’
‘Send it again. Did you make sure to add the info?’
Glancing over my shoulder, I got caught in William’s gaze. His lips were moving, but his eyes were on us. I turned back to my dad. ‘Yes, I added everything you asked me to. Is it okay if I resend it to you after I’m done here? It shouldn’t take us long before we take a break.’
‘I need it before four.’
‘No problem.’
‘Good.’
‘Okay. I’ll talk to you…’ I pushed on the handle and was about to go back in when my dad’s hands on me caused me to freeze.
‘Dad,’ I hissed, mortified as he buttoned up one more button on my shirt. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I can see your bra,’ he said, as if it were completely normal for him to button my shirt in the middle of the office where everyone could see us. Not to mention he could not see my bra at all. ‘What’s happening with your skin? Your face is different.’
Someone walking behind my dad stared at me, then averted their eyes.
I tried so hard not to let his words get to me, but it was next to impossible to ignore them lately. I felt goosebumps on my skin and they were not the good, happy kind. I was starting to reach the threshold of my patience when it came to my family and things were starting to bubble up.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. When I opened them my dad was staring at me. ‘Nothing is wrong with my skin,’ I answered, my voice small and tired. ‘I didn’t have time to do my makeup today.’ I could already feel my face heating up.
He shook his head, forever unhappy with me. ‘It’s the dog, isn’t it? I told you it was a mistake to get one when you have so much to do.’
My heckles rose. ‘It was the best decision I’ve ever made,’ I retorted. ‘I’ll resend the email. If there is nothing else, I need to go back in.’
As if I was being too much, his mouth pressed into a thin line. ‘I can’t say anything to you lately.’
‘I have work to do.’
I would’ve loved to get into it, but I gave him a curt nod and opened the door instead. The phone conversation with the CEO was already over and I’d missed it. Everyone but William was busy either on their laptops or on their phones. Gayle stood up and was coming my way.
‘I’ll get in touch with the execs who sold their shares,’ she announced into the room and offered me a small smile on her way out. I didn’t have one in me to offer back.
My face still heated, I took my seat. I was hoping William hadn’t seen my dad buttoning my shirt, but with my luck I was pretty sure he had been watching us the entire time.
‘Everything okay, Charlie?’ he asked softly and something in me melted at his voice.
I swallowed and, keeping my eyes down, decided to just nod so I wouldn’t react. I lifted my laptop, trying to look busy while also trying to listen to Stan, Rick and Trisha talking so I could catch up on the plan.
Then I felt a warm hand on my wrist and lifted my eyes to William’s. He raised his brow, insisting on an answer.
A little flustered under his gaze and his warm touch, I hastily looked at our co-workers and noticed they were all busy and unaware. We were supposed to act like professionals when we were at work, not like friends. I looked back at William and forced a small smile on my lips while my heart thundered in my chest.
